Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Understanding What It Costs to Close on a Home and What You Can Expect to Pay

If you’re in the process of buying a new home, you’ve likely heard
the term “closing costs” in regards to the many different fees and taxes
that you’ll be required to pay during the purchase process.
In this post we’ll look at a number of these closing costs and what
you will be expected to pay when you buy that next dream home.

Taking out a Mortgage? There Will Be Fees Attached
If you’re taking out a mortgage to finance the cost of buying your
home you’ll end up incurring a variety of fees. Nearly all lenders will
charge a mortgage application fee, which covers the cost of processing
your application and all of the necessary paperwork.
You’ll likely have to pay for a professional appraisal of the home as
well, as the lender will want to ensure that they aren’t lending you
more than the house and property are actually worth.

Inspection And Insurance Costs Will Add Up
If you’re buying a pre-owned home you’ll need to pay for a home
inspection to gain an understanding of the home’s condition and if
you’ll need to make any repairs in the near future. You’ll also need to
purchase homeowner’s insurance on the property to protect yourself in
the event that something does go wrong with the home.

If you put less than 20 percent down on the cost of the home, your
mortgage lender may also require that you purchase private mortgage
insurance; this will vary depending on which state or province you are
buying in.

Don’t Forget About Escrow Fees and Taxes
As with any major financial transaction you’ll need to satisfy the
tax man by paying various taxes on your purchase. These will vary
depending on where you are buying your home, but might include sales
taxes, property taxes, transfer taxes, recording fees, title transfer
fees and more.
If you used a third-party escrow service to manage these fees or to
hold your deposit during the closing process you’ll also need to pay
escrow fees prior to signing the final paperwork.